Orangutan WIP

I am working this Orang on 9"x12" sanded paper and doing him in pastels.  Still working on Mike the LSU mascot trying to get him finished up this week.  This Mike is taking longer because his reference shot was in the shade and he is sitting in shrubs, so I have to find other reference pics to rebuild his back haunch and his huge paws.

This subject, Orangutans, is one that Paul and I have many pictures of because the National Zoo in Washingon has a large group of Orangs.  They are such unusually colored, strangely proportioned and quite unique animals, very humanoid, again being threatened with extinction in the wild.  On the ground they walk upright but their proportions look so odd, however, get them in the trees or air and their long arms make them quite graceful and they put on quite a show as they cross the walk - natural entertainers.  The Zoo has built an Orang walk that is 4-5 stories high above the sidewalk, built of cables, and goes between two buildings.  The Orangs can use this cable walk to leave the Ape House and go to the Think Tank all day if they wish and each night decide which building they want to spend the night.  They never fail to almost fall, hearing the gasp of the gathered group below, I know they are secretly laughing at us as they hang there precariously.   Researchers at the zoo have been working with these apes for several years and have found them to be quite intelligent.  They have a vocabulary of words they recognize on sight and can construct simple sentences to communicate with their human researchers.  They also love popcorn and find it after the keepers clean their space hidden in balls, trees and other places to perk up their curiosity levels.

I always think they look so sad and when they look at you they seem to see right into your soul.  Last time we were at the Zoo it was cool and only one Orang was out and was sitting  in an obscure place.  There was a videographer standing next to us and once he set up his equipment here comes the Orang right in front of us and started his show, just like he knew he was being filmed.  He also did several really nice poses for Paul when he noticed him taking pictures.  They, unlike the gorillas, aren't afraid to look you right in the eye, most gorillas tend to sit with their backs to people and usually won't make eye contact. 

Thanks for stopping by and hope you are off to a great start of the weekend,  TGIF!!